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G. w. SANDERSON.

SIGN.

No. 400,364. Patented Ma1-. 26, 1889.

@Wmmo r gyvoamt o c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WV. SANDERSON, OF SHIRLEY VILLAGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SIGN.

SPECIFICATTON forming part of Letters'Patent No. 400,364, dated March 26, 1889; Application filed January 12, 1889. Serial No; 296,136. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. SANDERsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shirley Village, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, which, in connection with the drawings mak-' ing a part of this specification, will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and use the same.

My invention relates to signs or guidebdards for out-of-door use to designate roads, streets, paths, &c.; also, lots of land, &c. and the object of my invention is to improve upon the construction of signs or guide-boards as now made.

' My invention consists in certain novel feanature thereof indicated by the claims.

I'Ieretofore signs and guide-boards of the class above referred to have ordinarily been made of wood or other destructible material and the names or symbols painted thereon. Signs and guideboards of this construction, which are constantly exposed to the weather and changing seasons, last but a short time, the painted names or symbols are soon obliterated, and require to be constantly repainted.

My improved sign or guide-board is made of material which is substantially indestructible, and the names or symbols thereoncannot be obliterated. The weather andthe changing seasons have no effect on my sign or guideboard, and cannot in any way destroy or inj ure the same.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of one of my signs or guideboards. Fig. 2 is, on a much-enlarged scale,

a vertical section on line 00 00, Fig. 1, looking in direction of arrow a, same figure. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through one end, taken at line y, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of arrow 1), same figure. Fig. 4 is a detail view of two letters and a separating-stop. Fig. 5 is a detail of the separating-stop. Fig 6 is a front view of one of my signs attached to a supporting post or stand. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 2 a, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of arrow 0, same figure; and Fig. 8 is a cross-section. on line t 1;, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of arrow (1, same figure.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 is the frame or back of a sign or guide-board, upon which are placed and secured the metal letters or figures 2. The frame 1 is preferably made of sheet metal pressed or rolled into the shape shown in Fig. 2 in cross-section. The central longitudinal portion of the frame 1 is depressed below the top and bottom por tions, 1"; Fig. 2, and in such a manner as to leave grooves 3 extending longitudinally under the inner edges of the top and bottom portions, 1, of the frame 1. I prefer to bend over the outer edges, 1", of the top and bottom portion, 1", of the frame, (see Fig. 2,) so

as to have a finished top and bottom edge for the sign, and so as to have the free projecting edges 1" of the top and bottom portions, 1", in the same plane with the depressed central portion, 1. (See Fig. 2.) The end pieces, 4, of the sign or guide-board are made separate from the frame or back 1, and may be combined with-the same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, or as shown in Fig. 6, or in any other equivalent way.

In Figs. 1 and 3 the end pieces, a, are pressed or rolled into the shape shown in Fig. 3 in cross-section and fitted to the frame 1, so that the inner edge, at, will be depressed and rest upon the central depressed portion, 1', of the frame 1, and the top portion, 4", will extend over the top and bottom portions, 1" of the frame 1, and the outer edges, 4 extend down as far as the plane of the depressed central portion, 1, (see Fig. 3,) all for the purpose of making finished ends for the sign or guideboard to correspond with the top and bottom portions, 1", of the frame 1, to which they are secured by pins or screws 5. The letters or figures 2preferably made of metal-are provided with extensions or flanges 2 at their top and bottom, adapted to fit and extend into the longitudinal grooves 3 in the frame 1, (see Fig. 2,) to secure said letters, &c., to said frame. The letters and figures 2 are also provided at their top and bottom portions with projections or stops 2 extending out beyond the letters or figures proper. (See Fig. 4..) These projecting parts 2" butt against each other and act as stops or separating devices to always hold the letters, &c., at a proper distance apart and to prevent their displacement in the frame 1.

In case two or more words or symbols are used in one sign or guide-board which it is desired to separate a supplemental separating device or stop, (5, is used, which is provided with notches in its under face to receive the corresponding projections on the projecting parts 2", (see Figs. 4 and 5,) and by means of which the supplemental stop 6 is held up in the groove 3 in the frame 1. The letters, figures, orother symbols are combined with the back or frame 1, before one or both of the end pieces, 4, are secured to said frame,

by inserting the extensions or flanges 2' at the top and bottom of the letters 2 in the longitudinal grooves'3 in the frame 1, and sliding the letters along in the depressed central portion, 1, of the frame until the necessary number of letters are inserted, when the end pieces, 4, are secured in place on the frame and serve to hold the letters in their proper position in the frame and to prevent them from moving or dropping out of the same. I prefer to make the letters or figures 2 of such a thickness that when the letters are placed in the depressed central portion, 1, of the frame 1 the top surface of the letters or figures will be in substautially the same plane as the upper surface of the top and bottom portion, 1", of the frame 1.

In case it is desired to use my sign for marking cemetery-lots, &c., I may combine it with an iron post or standard, 7, which is preferably made out of one piece of iron rod, flattened at its upper end and bent to receive the frame 1, as shown in cross-section, Fig. 7, which is secured thereto by means of bolts and nuts 8, or other equivalent means. The lower part of the iron rod or post '7 is bent upon itself, so as to form horizontal projecting fiat surfaces 7, extending out at right angles from the post proper, which flat surfaces 7 serve as means for pressing the post into the ground, and also serve, by bearing on the ground, to hold the post in its properupright position. Below the projecting flat surfaces 7 the pointed end of the post, which is thrust into the ground, extends.

The advantages of my improved sign or guide-board will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. It is made entirely of metal and cannot be destroyed. It requires no paint, as the frame in which the letters or symbols are placed is made of galvanized or enameled metal, and the letters or other symbols may be enameled. By means of the proj ecting stops on each letter the letters are always retained in their proper position in the sign or guide-board, and by means of the supplemental stops two or more words, &c., may be combined in one sign.

The sign or guide-board may be made double, if desired, to receive two lines of letters or symbols, by making the frame 1. with two or more depressed portions, 1, with longitudinal grooves 3 therein.

The details of construction of some of the parts of my sign or guide-board may be varied somewhat from what is above described, if desired, without departing from the principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sign or guide-board, the combination, with a sheet-metal back or frame having longitudinal grooves therein, of removable letters or symbols provided with extensions or flanges to extend into said grooves, and projecting ends to butt against each other, to serve as separating devices, and to retain the letters or symbols in their proper position on said back or frame, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a sign or guide-board, the combination, with a sheet-metal back or frame having longitudinal grooves therein, of removable letters or symbols to extend into said grooves, and supplemental separating-stops to extend between the letters or symbols to separate the same, substantially as shown and described.

The combination, with a metallic sign or guide-board, consisting of a sheet-metal back or frame with longitudinal grooves therein, and removable letters or symbols held in said grooves, of a post or standard made of an iron rod, bent at its upper parts to receive the sign or guide-board, and bent at its lower part to furnish horizontal projecting surfaces for the purpose stated, substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE \V. SANDERSON.

Vitnesses:

JOHN C. DEWEY, HENRY II. YOUNG. 

